Crimson Desert May Not Be for Everyone, and That’s Perfectly Fine

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Have you ever started playing a game – whether for a few minutes or many hours – and immediately felt a connection, knowing it would be special? I’ve experienced that feeling with games across all genres. Whether it’s getting lost in the world of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, making tough choices in Citizen Sleeper, completing a risky mission in ARC Raiders, or simply relaxing with the characters in The Alters – these games felt uniquely tailored to my tastes, and I suspect many others would feel the same way.

You might expect me to be excited about Crimson Desert, and I likely will be, but I’m not quite there yet – mostly because I haven’t actually played it! Still, everything I’ve seen suggests it’s exactly the kind of open-world fantasy action RPG I’ve been hoping for. I’m not necessarily looking for a game with mechs or a giant robot dragon boss. While I’d happily accept either, I’m really hoping for a game that doesn’t overwhelm me with too many combat options – things like hand-to-hand fighting, grappling, swords, magic, and everything in between.

I’m excited about the freedom to wander and discover amazing things in this game. The new trailer raised so many questions – like, what is that huge, walking tree? And those platforms high in the trees… could people be living there? Plus, I’m curious about the Soul Spear and what it does, and just how big the Abyss actually is. It feels like there’s so much to explore and learn.

Those are all the initial questions I have, but the most exciting discoveries come from exploring what we don’t know and finding truly new information.

Even though some people are skeptical, Crimson Desert is generating a lot of hopeful interest. Comments on the recent gameplay video show a mix of excitement and doubt. One person summed it up by saying it seems almost too good to be true, but they added a smiley face, so it’s hard to know what they really think. Others are questioning whether the developers can actually deliver on the game’s promise, expressing their concerns with anxious emojis. While many are enthusiastic – and admit it’s hard not to be – even they acknowledge the game feels a bit unbelievable.

We’ve all heard the saying: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. This often holds true in the video game industry, but the opposite can also be surprising. Think about Clair Obscur – many people didn’t expect it to be as amazing as it turned out to be! Both extremes happen, making it hard to judge a game early on. When Crimson Desert was first announced almost six years ago, I would have been skeptical about its potential, especially considering its ambitious scope and variety of gameplay. However, those doubts were put to rest in 2024 with a detailed 52-minute gameplay demonstration showcasing everything from movement and exploration to combat and even skydiving.

That was back in September 2024, and we’ve seen a lot more of the game since then, including many new details. I’m still incredibly excited to potentially spend hours and hours exploring this world – not exactly a surprise, though!

The developer is a business, and it’s fair to be cautious about spending $69.99 on this game. However, the team seems to be doing a good job of teasing players with interesting features without revealing everything at once, building anticipation effectively.

The recent update added some much-needed background to Kliff’s goal of bringing the Greymane mercenaries back together. I was pleasantly surprised to find they seem like more than just simple characters who will stay at camp. What’s even more interesting is the larger storyline—Kliff uniting them to defend Pywel, despite their own homeland needing attention—is actually making me feel like a hero.

Beyond all of that, the game introduces two new characters with completely different ways to play. Interestingly, the developers aren’t revealing much about them upfront. Instead, they offer quick looks at what these characters can do in battle, hinting that you’ll be able to fully explore their abilities once you unlock them. It seems like they’re keeping details under wraps to avoid spoiling the experience.

Marketing expert Will Powers recently told Destin Legarie that we’ve only seen a small part of what the game has to offer, particularly when it comes to some groups and their storylines. Considering how much content the developers have promised, and the fact that the main story is just a fraction of it all, players can expect much more than just castle battles and town liberation in the future.

It’s possible the ending isn’t perfect, but would that really ruin the overall experience, especially if it’s a relatively small part of the game? Would it diminish all the other interesting stories players might find along the way? Everyone plays games differently, and as Powers pointed out, completion times vary wildly because players experience games in unique ways.

It’s impossible to say if Crimson Desert will satisfy everyone. With so much hype – it already has over two million wishlists – we’re bound to have players with very different ideas about what the game should be. It’s possible the many different features, things to do, and characters won’t appeal to everyone right away, but they might! Even after we share more details in the coming weeks, we won’t know for sure if it’s a perfect fit for all players.

It’s okay to be skeptical, and it’s interesting how Crimson Desert consistently gets the same reactions over time. But it’s also fun to get excited about the game! Don’t immediately dismiss the various gameplay features just because they seem simple or might not all connect perfectly. Let’s be real – a quest to round up escaped sheep probably won’t be crucial to saving the world from evil forces. That’s just like how you don’t have to do every side quest in games like Cyberpunk 2077 or The Witcher 3.

However, these elements still exist to draw you into the game’s world and connect you with its characters. Similar to those introductory experiences, Crimson Desert gives you a lot of freedom to explore and discover things on your own, allowing you to choose your path and decide what to do next.

This game offers a huge world, even bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2, with so much to do – like spending 50 hours improving weapons and exploring. Because of this, players really need to decide how they want to spend their time. Some might feel overwhelmed by all the options, finish the main story and a few side quests, and then stop playing. But others will get completely hooked, endlessly exploring every corner of the game, perfecting their characters, and taking on the hardest challenges, simply because they enjoy it. And in today’s world, that’s saying something!

Whether it becomes a classic or not, Crimson Desert has the potential to be truly memorable. Even if the story doesn’t perfectly wrap up, it still promises to be a really enjoyable game.

Please keep in mind that the opinions shared in this article belong solely to the author and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2026-02-06 16:16